Garmin XT versus TomTom - Why is Garmin Slow to track location?

[cloves]

Hi all, I am currently testing Garmin XT and I noticed that there seems to be a bit of a lag in the GPS when you are driving around. I have TomTom currently which is flawless. Is there perhaps some setting I missed with Garmin or is this just the way it is???

[serfboreds]

Hi all, I am currently testing Garmin XT and I noticed that there seems to be a bit of a lag in the GPS when you are driving around. I have TomTom currently which is flawless. Is there perhaps some setting I missed with Garmin or is this just the way it is???

I believe this has to do with the nature of the software drivers and the way they interact with the hardware of the phone. It is something that may be different from phone to phone.

[cloves]

Ahhh darn thats a shame I am running a mogul. What I like about Garmin is the fact that it has gas prices and traffic for free unlike TomTom. Anyone else experiencing the same issue?

[BlitzK]

seems to work fine for me, but I use it with the bluecharts maps and not any street maps.

[cloves]

Hmm well I just wanted to post a follow up not sure if this will help since I haven't tried on the streets yet. I went into the settings and by default Garmin had selected "Use GPD Intermediate Driver" which worked for me but again I saw a lag while driving around and frequent redrawing of where I was relative to the map.

So now I just went back to the settings and hit "disable" which then brought up a list "Use Bluetooth GPS" "Use GPD Intermediate Driver" and "Use Serial GPS". I then selected "Use Serial GPS" and selected COM4:COM4. I had to do this a couple of times the software would scan but not let me keep COM4 but after a few tries it found COM4. I don't know if this will make everything faster but I will keep everyone posted.

[cloves]

Well even after the changes I made seems garmin is just slow tracking and when you are driving that can really suck.

[sputnik]

Well even after the changes I made seems garmin is just slow tracking and when you are driving that can really suck.

How slow is slow? I use Garmin now, and used to use Tomtom, and while it might seem that the arrow doesn't move quite as often, it still seems to be doing what it's supposed to. Is the screen not updating as often?

[Muledeer]

I have both on my Mogul -- I just updated the Garmin with the 2008 maps and tested it the other day on a 2 hour trip - it was dead on but I did use a blue tooth GPS antenna Holux 240Slim instead of the built in GPS -- I find the built in is dependent on a data connection which I will lose when I go out of area.

I noticed the Garmin was within a few feet of being dead on -- see an exit and there it was on the map - including the talking parts when I was told to exit right, etc

Mule

[Sirhcchris]

I've used both and I have found that XT is slightly slower in its frame rate then TOMTOM. However, I have been a long time GPS user and LOVE the fact that I can now load all of my topograhical and marine maps to my P4000! The detail and accuracy of XT makes TOMTOM maps look like something off Dora the explorer. TOMTOM didn't even have roads drawn in for my home town. It was just a peininsula into water. On XT you even see the ATV paths that follow the coast! With the topo maps you can pick a lake, hike to it and fish your brains out! XT takes it off road. Tomtom is of no use in that department. Its a hikers dream: music, communications, nav, camera and more in one small device. To bad the P4000 isn't waterproof. My Garmin Rino must be feeling left out.... :)

[mykleh35]

you might want to check which driver you are using... I'm on 42020... I know I had problems with 42030 (resetting my clock and what not) and heard 42040 had issues to.. just a thought...

[sadthai]

i believe all gps lag one second behind real time. tomtom is the only software that predict 1/2 and 1 second ahead.

btw, does anybody know how to limit garmin xt auto zoom? sometime it zoom out way too much.

[mykleh35]

you can turn off auto zoom but you can't "control" it.. the default is to zoom out to show next turn... I just keep it turned off...